‘Health Cognitions’ stand for one’s beliefs, perceptions, attributions, meaning about health, perceived health status and complaints. Subjective well-being involves the study of what lay people might call happiness and satisfaction. In the present study, psychological variables related to health have been studied in 132 rural participants above 55 years of age (Male-64, Female- 68). In order to compare the age-effect on health beliefs, perception of health status, subjective well-being (happiness, life satisfaction, optimism), occurrence of somatic complaints and psychological distress symptoms, the sample was divided into middle-aged (55-60 years) and older adults (61 years and above). Middle-aged group comprised of 72 participants while there were 60 participants in older adults group. The difference between sexes (gender) has also been tested for various variables separately and in interaction with age.
Journal of Indian Health Psychology Vol. 4, No. 1, September, 2009